Means for opening or closing sliding windows and the like



March 13, 1928. 1,662,722

H. SMITH MEANS FOR OPENING OR CLOSING SLIDING WINDOWS AND THE LIKE Filed May 11 1,925

umsmi'iinu 6d grwentoz 66/ Henry 87711 Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY SMITH; OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

MEANS FOR OPENING 01H, CLOSING SLIDING WINDOWS AND THE LIKE;

Application filed May 11, 1926. Serial No. 108,375.

This invention has reference generally to means for closing or opening windows, doors or other sliding panels or members, hereinafter referred to as windows? of: the type described in my copending application Ser'. No. 66,374, filed Nov. 2, 1925.

The invention has for its primary aim andobject to provide a window raising and lowering device of the character wherein the several operating parts are arranged in compact form sons to occupy only a minimum amount of space when appliedto the window frame of a motor car, railway ea'rriage; or the like;

It is an additional and equally important object of the present invention to provide in combination with themeans for raising and lowering the window a secondary check or stop device which not only preventsrattling of the window and which tends to prevent raising or lowering of the window from the outside but serves to reinforce the control means indirectly as preventing the spring controlled drum from actuating.

In particular the invention comprises the provision of a device for opening or closing a window which includesa rotary member or drum rotated with its axis at right angles to the plane of the window and having operative connection with the window and in association with the brake device which is provided for controlling the rotation of the drum. The rotary member is mounted in association with the spring adapted to cause the movement in one direction of the window and the braking means comprising a member or shoe having awedge-like action upon the brake drum in one direction of movement. The secondary check means is housed within the spindle which rotatably supports the drum and acts directly on the window but is readily accessible and operative from the outside of the main supporting bracket ofthe device so that it may be moved into or. out of engagement with the window.

The invention isclearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a general diagrammatiofront elevation of the motor car door showing a sliding window and. indicating the position of the device according to the presentinven' tion,

Fig: 2 is a rear view of the? device when detached from the window,

Finn is a vertical. centralsectional thereof showing particularly the secondary check device in engagement with the window,

Fig. i is a side elevation of the arrangement shown in Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now, more particularly, to the drawings there is provided a plate, bracket or frame member 1 which is adapted to be connect-ed to or mounted upon the framing of a motor car door or the like adjacent the sill a of the window I) (see Fig. 1 This plate or frame carries the window raising or lowering means (indicated by the general reference a Fig. 1) according to the invention and may he slid into opposed grooves in the sides of an opening in the door and secured against accidental displacement by aid of screws or it may be so mounted that it may be displaceable or readily detachable from the door-for inspection by the aid of suitable means, such as hinges or catchesor by being mounted ingrooves which may he slid into position and: secured. The plate 1 isformed with or has mounted uponit a short stub axle or spindle 2 extending therefrom towards the window so that the axis is atright angles to the plane of the window. This stub axle is constructed entirely hollow throughout and is internally thread ed at the inner end while when not formed integral with the plate it is formed with a flange or disc 2 for securing it to the plate. The plate is preferably formed with an anglepiece 1 which adapted to overlie the sill of the window.

Aflat spiral spring 3 has its inner end anchored to the stub axle whileits other end is secured tothe inner periphery of a rotary member 4 which is in the form of a casing for-the spring, the arrangement being. such that the spring is adapted to promote roment upon the outer periphery of the brake drum and operates in association with a correspondingly formed abutment surface 6. The shoe may have a fibrous or woven brake lining. An abutment surface is provided and may be carried by the mounting plate or it may be supported upon any suitable fixture, the arrangement being such that the brake shoe 5 may be drawn into intimate contact with the brake drum in one direction of rotation thereof with a wedge-like action between the drum 4 and the abutment 6 while in the other direction of motion the shoe is pushed away by the movement of the drum. Adjustable control means is provided for determining the position of the brake shoe as will be hereinafter described.

The operative connection between the rotary member and the window is by means of a flexible connection 7 wound upon a drum or pulley surface coaxial with the stub shaft. According to the present construction a pulley or like 7 of lesser diameter than the brake drum 4 is carried therewith. The pulley and drum are laterally secured by a com bined bearing and clamping element 2, the exteriorly threaded tubular portion of which engages the threaded part of the hollow axle or spindle Q'while the flange portion is countersunk within the outer face of the pulley as shown in Fig.3. The flexible connection 7 may be in the form of a wire or the like and is connected to the window glass by means of a suitable clip or fastening 8.

In the present construction and mounting of the device the flexible connection unwinds over the vertical center line of the window so that the pull is directed immediately in line with the center of gravity. In this case the window clip 8 has an extended trans- Verse contact with the window with a view to enabling the latter to be smoothly raised and lowered within its grooves.

A brake shoe 5 is preferably pivotally connected (or by the aid of a link 5) to a plunger rod 5 upon which a spring 5 operates normally tending to thrust the brake shoe 5 into engagement with the rotary member 4 and abutment 6. This spring pressed plunger 5" may be housed within a cylindrical casing member 5 or other guiding means may be provided and a screw cap or other device may be employed for the purpose of varying the tension of the spring. The outer end of the plunger is adapted to be connected to (or have mounted there on) manipulative control means.- For example, the end of the rod may be screw threaded and engaged by a correspondingly screw threaded knob or'handle device so that rotation of the latter causes the brake shoe to be withdrawn from its arresting position while rotation in the other direction permits the full braking action to take place. The adjusting means for the control device preferably includes a collar 5 which is mounted on the outer end of the plunger casing men1- her 5 and has the outer surface provided with a plurality of cam teeth 5. Upon the outer end of the spindle 5 rotatably mounted a knob or cap 5 the inner sides of which are provided with a plurality of: cum teeth 5* corresponding with the cam teeth 5'.

In operation the rotation of the knob causes the cam teeth to ride upon one another and cause an axial displacement of the spindle 5 together with the brake shoe 5. The cam teeth are arranged so that should the person operating the window tend to turn the knob too far the teeth slip over one another and the knob drops back to its original position thus preventing the shoe from being withdrawn too far away from the brake drum and thus allowing the spring to slam the window up without restraint.

It is necessary under all conditions to provide means whereby the brake is never completely withdrawn from its action upon the drum and from this the cam device as described above may be employed so as to limit the amount to which the shoe may be withdrawn. The provision of av stop or equivalent means to limit the movement of the shoe affords a modified braking action which may be conveniently utilized in connection with the window for a drivers seat so that the driver may push down the window and put out his arm for the signal. hen the driver withdraws his arm the window will return slowly to its closed position aniomatically owing to the brake setting.

The plate 1 is adapted to support the abutment 6 of the brake shoe 5. the latter being provided with the spring pressed plunger 5" of the kind described mounted in the housing or casing 5 carried by the angular par 1" of the plate. It is also preferred to mount the abutment 6 upon a pivot such as 6 so that its position with respect to the drum may be adjusted. The adjustment means preferably consist of a pivoted eccentric member 6. the position of which may be adjusted by a key applied to the squared end 6 of the eccentric mount-ing. The abutment also consists of a roller or pair of rollers against which the back of the shoe. slides.

As intimated suitable secondary checking or braking means has been provided for preventing a jumping movement of the. window when traveling over rough roads, the secondary or checking device also rendering it difficult to lower the window from the out side and to reinforce the braking means by indirectly acting thereon through a. clamp ing action with the window thereby prevent ing the spring from actuating. In reducing this feature of the invention to practice a plunger rod 8 is provided and is slidably mounted through the bushing portion of the clamping and bearing element 2" the outer ill) end being fitted with a cushion member in the form of a dished or cup shaped disc 9. The plunger rod is arranged through the stub axle and has the outer end reduced and slidably mounted through the bearing portion 10 of a knurled tensioning element 11. A coil spring is arranged about the plunger rod with the respective ends bearing against the shoulder 12 provided when the inner end is reduced and against the inner end of the threaded tubular portion of the knurled tensioning element 11. The threaded portion 10 of the knurled adjustable tensioning member 11 is engaged with corresponding internal threads on the inner surface of the stub axle of the spindle for regulating the tension of the spring on the plunger rod. The knurled element carries on its outer surface a collar 13 formed in turn on its outer edge with teeth 14 for coacting with the ratchet face 15 of a knurled adprsting element 16 for controlling the position of the plunger and its suction disc relative to the window. The extreme outer end of the plunger rod is threaded and is adjustably connected with the knurled adjusting element 16 by means of a lock nut 17 which is seated in a recess in the knurled adjusting element 16 so as to regulate the extent of the thrust of the plunger. A cap 18 is en gaged over the recess for housing the lock ing member.

From the foregoing it will be noted that the spring tends to force the plunger 8 towards the window and by rotation of the knob or adjusting arm 16 the plunger may be retracted.

It is believed in View of the foregoing description that a further detailed description of the operation of the invention. is entirely unnecessary. Likewise it is believed that the advantages of the invention will be readily apparent. 7

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to he secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An arrangement of the character described, the combination of a frame and a window slidable therein, of a bracekt fastened to the frame, a shaft carried with the bracket, a window actuating device mounted exteriorly of the shaft and flexibly connected with the window, adjustable control means for the actuating device, and secondary holding means mounted interiorly of the shaft for engagement with the window to prevent movement of the window.

2. In combination a frame, a window slidable therein, an attaching bracket fastened to the frame, a tubular shaft extending at right angles to the inner surface of the attaching bracket toward the window, a Window actuating device mounted exteriorly of the shaft and flexibly connected thereto, ad justable means for controlling the operation of the actuating deviw, a holding device mounted within the shaft for engagement with. the window to prevent movement thereof, and means for operating the hold ing device.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the actuating device includes a drum and a cover and wherein the holding device includes a plunger and a window engaging element, a combined hearing and clamping element mounted in the outer end of the shaft for supporting the plunger and for holding the cover on the drum.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the window holding device includes a spring pressed plunger positioned within the shaft and a window clamping and engaging element exteriorly of the shaft, and wherein the adjusting means includes means for regulating the amount of thrust of the plunger.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY SMITH. 

